Clearly that would have to change.
Jacinda looked up as I came into the lab.
“Good morn-” she began to say but I couldn’t wait for her to finish.
“You have to take me shopping at lunch time.”
She startled for a second, as she eyeballed me in inquiry.
“I have to buy some new clothes.”
She perked up at once. “What’s happening?”
“Nothing. Just…photographers everywhere.” I mumbled the last part, coloring in embarrassment. “Shut up,” I added as I saw her grin.
“Well, well, well…look who finally got a clue. Don’t worry, Nico. I’m here to save you. I trust you have some limitless credit card on you somewhere?”
I nodded, still avoiding her eye.
“Okay.” She clapped her hands, turning back to her station. “Let’s get some work done, so we can take a guilt-free, long lunch break.”
Seeing as that was an excellent idea, I followed her lead, making sure to email my supervisor first to remind her that I had the grant meeting in the morning and then signing off with my new surname.
To my surprise, she replied right away to wish me luck. I blinked at the email, bemused. It was one thing to come up with a plan to marry a man for his name in order to move up in the world. It was quite another to see how such a thing worked its magic.
My supervisor usually answered my emails with the equivalent of grunts and impatience. I had been expecting the usual reminder about how the grant meeting hadn’t really anything to do with my FDA work and so I should expect to do some (unpaid) overtime to make up for it.
With an internal shrug, I returned to my work, but I couldn’t resist shaking my head now and then. As soon as the clock struck one, Jacinda was pulling me off my stool. “Come on, those designer jeans are not going to buy themselves,” she said excitedly. She practically flew down the corridor, holding onto my hand, and then we were outside and headed towards the subway.
Taking the train would be faster than driving.
Normally I hated shopping, but Jacinda’s excitement made it fun – that and the fact that she instituted a ban on looking at price tags. So I just bought what I liked, what fit best and felt comfortable and looked sensational.
“There you are!” Jacinda’s arms were wide, her face delighted as I came out of the dressing room to show her the latest outfit. “Show off those curves, girl.”
I made a face, looking down at my dress, which did indeed hug every curve on my body without making me look thirsty or like I walked the streets for a living. In fact, to be honest, it made me look fantastic. I shrugged. “Mm, I suppose it’ll do.”
“You have to get Domenic to take you for dinner tonight! And wear that.”
I smiled, shaking my head. I suppose it would be a good idea to be seen out and about with Dom on the eve of my grant meeting.
“Miss Innes. How fortuitous!” A tall, bottle-blond man with a square jaw and a fake tan stood in front of me, smiling as if we knew each other.
“I’m sorry, who are you?”
He looked slightly taken aback by my tone. I guessed he might’ve known my name, but he didn’t know I was from the streets. “Uh, I’m Roman Alexander. Your husband and I… well, let’s just say we’re competing for the same job.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard of you.” I narrowed my eyes at him, wondering why he was talking to me.
“I was wondering if I might have a word.” He glanced at Jacinda and then away.
I folded my arms. “Yeah?”
“Perhaps your ah…assistant can give us a minute?”
I gasped at the audacity, but Jacinda just shook her head. “I’m going to look at the jeans. Hurry up before I buy them all.” She walked off, head held high, and I ground my teeth together, wanting to punch someone in the face. Suddenly I was very motivated to help Dom get that job.
The man, Roman, stepped closer, almost too much in my personal space. He gave me a smarmy smile. “Now, Miss Innes-”
“It’s Mrs. Cliff,” I growled.
He gave me a look. “Well, that is exactly what I wanted to discuss. A little birdie told me that your marriage might not exactly be a love match?” He blinked at me, watery blue eyes twinkling as if we shared a secret.
“What little birdie is that? Was it Perez Hilton? You know you can’t believe everything he writes, right?”
He legit rolled his eyes at me. “Come on, now. You’re among friends here. Now, if I were to offer you…say, equivalent of whatever Cliff’s paying you plus a sizeable percentage on top…could we ah, talk sabotage?”
I folded my arms, marveling at his presumption. “I beg your pardon?”
“Fine. You twisted my arm. I’ll pay you double whatever Cliff’s paying you.”
I blinked, frozen in place, unable to process what he was saying. “What exactly are you asking me to do?”
He shrugged. “Nothing big. Just maybe let one of the tabloids interview you – and maybe you let slip that your marriage isn’t real?”
“But...it is.”
He gave me a skeptical look. “Come on, Miss Innes. We both know that you are far from Domenic’s type. He only chose you because you look good on paper. A scientist? Inspired, I’ve got to admit. I underestimated him.”
He reached into his pocket and took out a piece of paper. I looked down at it and saw that it was a blank check. A feeling of déjà vu swept through me.
These rich people sure did think anything and everything was for sale.
He handed the check to me. When I didn’t reach for it, he stuck it in the
